Tech Co-op Grants Program
Need talent? Get up to $20,000 in funding to hire co-op students through the Tech Co-op Grants Program.
Need talent? Get up to $20,000 in funding to hire co-op students through the Tech Co-op Grants Program.
About the program
Due to high demand, our waitlist has reached capacity and we are no longer processing new BC Tech Co-op Grant applications. We do have other funding opportunities available. If you are specifically looking to hire a student, check out the Digital Skills for Youth and Mitacs Innovate BC Program.
Need talent? Get up to $20,000 per year in funding to hire co-op students through the Tech Co-op Grants Program. Whether you’re a technology-based company looking to grow or a non-tech organization looking to grow your innovation footprint, our program could be right for you.
Each employer is eligible to receive a maximum of four grants each per program year (May 1 to April 30) valued at up to $5,000 (a total value of $20,000), to recruit and train between one to four distinct co-op students. The employer is accountable for the remainder of the student’s salary during the co-op term.
Your Application
Program eligibility
A co-op work term is an opportunity for post-secondary students to gain work experience while still in school. Companies looking for fresh, eager-to-learn talent hire students on temporary contracts. Students spend the term working for the company and get academic credit for it. Co-op students are typically hired for 4 or 8 months, covering 1 or 2 terms.
Co-op hiring is coordinated through the post-secondary institutions. To be eligible for a grant, the student must be hired through an accredited co-op program in B.C.
Two things count as a tech role:
1. A role in a tech company
2. A role that is primarily related to developing tech or providing tech support. Some examples include:
This means the student has never completed a co-op work term with an accredited co-op program in B.C. The student needs to be part of an accredited co-op program and be hired through this program.
Yes. In order to be eligible to receive a grant, the student must be enrolled in an accredited co-op program in B.C. You must also hire the student through the co-op program.
If it has been less than five years since your company has hired a co-op student then you must hire a student on their first co-op placement in order to be eligible for a Tech Co-op Grant.
A typical application is processed within 15 business days. You will then be notified whether you have received conditional approval or have been declined.
Co-op work terms start at three different times during the year. We suggest posting a few months ahead of when the co-op term you are hiring for begins.
Yes! Please note, the usual eligibility requirements concerning student roles for work placements still stand.
Yes! This another great benefit of our program. You have until March 15th, 2020 to apply for a co-op term that took place in Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Fall 2019, or Spring 2020.
PLEASE NOTE: Any placement completed before May 1st, 2018 is not eligible for retroactive approval.
Yes. In fact, you are eligible to receive two grants – one for each semester of the 8-month contract. However, you will be required to apply twice. In your second application, please make note that the student is in a continuing role on an 8-month contract.
In order to receive the grant funds, employers will need to have done three key things:
Grant cheques will be mailed at the end of the student’s co-op term. Typically, cheques arrive in the 4th or 5th month following the start of the co-op term.
For example, a Fall 2018 (Sep – Dec) grant cheque will be mailed in December or January.